Chris Waller’s filly Amicus wins Thousand Guineas

All conquering Sydney trainer Chris Waller added another Group one win to his Spring Carnival haul with Amicus taking out the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield. Traveston Girl finished second with Sabatini third.

Waller collected a Group 1 double at Randwick last Saturday with He’s Your Man winning the Group 1 $500,000 The Star Epsom (1600m) and Junoob taking out the Group 1 $400,000 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m).

The premier Sydney trainer also won the Group 1 $350,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick with Sacred Falls and the Group 1 $400,000 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield with Foreteller on September 20.

Waller brought Amicus to Melbourne early in her campaign to let her get accustomed to the reverse way of going and the plan has paid off handsomely.

Amicus was first past the post at Caulfield on August 30 but was relegated to second on protest and then ran second to Afleet Esprit in the Group 2 $200,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 28 when ridden by Jim Cassidy.

But Hugh Bowman was back aboard today after winning a maiden on her back in March and was keen on her chances today.

“I won a maiden on her back in the Autumn and straight away I said Chris I think she’s got class,” Bowman said.

“So he brought her down for the Thousand Guineas, and gave her a Melbourne prep and it’s paid off.”

“It was big run the other day.”

“She jumped well and I pushed forward from a wide barrier, she had to do a bit of work, but once I got smothered up behind the leader, I just helped her around this track.”

Waller will take this win in before he maps out a plan for the rest of the Spring Carnival but he didn’t rule out a run in the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 6.

Author: Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.